Automatic train pipe coupling



AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING Original Filed Feb. 2, 1923 INVENTOR ATTOR N EY Patented June 2, 1931 PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH nonmsoiv, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE coornrne Application filed February 2, 1923, Serial No.'616,593. Renewed April 13, 1929.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic train pipe couplings andhas amongits objects to improve the support for such devices. The invention resides in the combinations, constructions and improvements hereinafter described, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a side elevation of my improve-. "ment.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the bracket, the spring D, and the spring'abutment 12. In this view the coupling head A is omitted, and the upper part of the bracket is broken away.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the construction shown in Figure 2 with the anchorbolts 10 and the spring D omitted. This view is taken approximately on the line?) 3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a sectional plan view of my improvement. I

Referring now to the drawings: Any suitable type of coupling headA may be carried by niyimproved support. Ishowawellknown type of head having a centrally located opening carrying a gasket 5, into which opening a suitable laterally diverging fiuidconduit 6 is screwed or otherwise secured, the conduit being adapted to receive as desired the usual train pipe hose not shown. At the rear of the coupling head A, I provide a bracket B, the upper end of which is formed to receive a lug G, substantially as shown in my oo- 'qpending application Serial 460,435 filed April 11th, 1921, for improvements in automatic train pipe connectors. .The lug C is suitably secured to the usual car coupler, not shown,

and the bracket B is clamped to the lug by.

4ojmeans of bolts 7. The base or lower end of the bracket B forms a ring 8, having diagonally spaced thereon outwardly extending erforated lugs 9, all as shown in Figure 3. oosely or otherwise secured in the perfora :tions of the lugs 9, I mount a pair of tie rods or anchor bolts 10 which extend rearwardly of the bracket and inclined towards the center thereof, and upon the rear end of these anchor bolts I mount, as by means of the nuts 11, a spring abutment device'12. Secured '5 to the coupling head A or to the conduit 6 in a suitable manner, preferably formed integral with the conduit, I provide a shank 14 which extends rearwardly of the head through the ring or base 8 from the bracket B. The shank is provided with three webs 15, 15a and 15?), two of which lie in the horizontal plane and the other of which lies in the vertical plane, as shown particularly in Figures 3 and 4. The webs taper abruptly from the shank 14 outwardly to the inner periphery of the-ring 8, and are there provided with shoulders 16, as shown in Figures 2 and 4. At their rear end these webs are joined by an annular seat 17 for a spring, and extending rearwarda5 ly from the center of said seat is provided a stem 18'which may be regarded as a continuation of the shank 14. The stem is rectangular in cross section as shown in Figure 3 and extends slidingly, but non-rotatably, through an opening in the abutment 12as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4, this opening being of such size asto permit pivotal movement of the shank 1 8 horizontally or ver- Surtically relative to the abutment 12. rounding the stem18 and interposed between the abutment 12 and the webs15, 15a and 15b,

. I provide a suitable bufier spring D, the forthe shoulders 16 of the webs bearing against the rear side of the ring or base 8 of the bracket B. This action of the spring not only extends the coupling head, but also centers the same with respect to the ring 8 of the bracket, and thereby properly positions the head A for coupling. For, as will be noted, as the spring D forces the head forward the tapered webs 15 15a and 15b, contact with the lnner walls of the ring 8 and center the head with respect thereto, the lower web 156 serving to position the head vertically and the horizontally disposed webs 15 and 15a serving to position the head laterally. Thus, if the coupling head A is moved laterally from the position shown in Figure 1, the webs 15 and 15a, contacting with the walls of the ring 8, will cause the shank 14 to move rearwardly thereby compressing the spring D which will bring the head back to normal posi tion again when that force employed to move it is relieved. The same operation followst-hemovement of the head downwardly when not in coupled position because such downwardmovement will cause the shank and ste1n .18 to move rearwardly due to the inclined forward edge of the=web -'15b. Such rearward movement of the shank andstem will. compresstli'efspring D so that the pressure of the spring will bring the shank 14 and head A bacl'r'jton'ormal position when the downward pressure-on the head is released. It will of 'coursefbe apparent that no resistance Will be offered to upward movement of the head when in uncoupled position because such upward movement will not result in compress the spring= D. In other words, the webs 15, 15kt and] 15?) extend only laterally and downwardly from-the'stem'18, there being no similar part v extending upwardly therefrom with the result that the stem is capable of free upward movement at all times and in all positionfs. Undue rotation ofthe coupling head A is prevented through the medium ofthe stem 18 fitting closely inthe abutment. 12,

as aforesaid;

'The operation of my improvement is as 'follo'ws When opposing cars equipped with my invention couple up, the coupling heads;

Abring the conduits 6'into alignment. Further coupling' movement of thecars: wilt fierce-the heads A rear-wardl y and" compress "the bu'lf'er'springs D; This operation will.

move the webs 15, .1"5a 15b" rearwardlyi out ofjthe ring 8, thus "permitting the coupling heard A to. moveuniversally with respect to- .thebracket'B; Duringxsuch movement the 'rearcoilsiofthe spring D will deflect laterally,l'and the stemil8 and the shank 14 will.

oscillate with-res'pect to the opening in the ringjB andfintheabutment 12. Q It will'be ob.-

. served that the anchor bolts 10are diagonally spaced withrespect to'th'e ring'8, as aforesaid. This-isto prevent-the webs 15, 15a;.1-5b push-- ingagainst these bolts. It is understood of courser'thatthe compression of the-spring D may be-variedby adjusting. the nutsll, and;

in this-way oppose" greater resistance to lateral movement of the coupling head A from the normal uncoupled position. lVhile'the bolts .or,,rods are notrigidly secured in the \bracketB, .or the abutment 12,; these rods are always under the tension of the spring D so that practically the rods are rigid with the bracket as well as with the abutment.

To assemble my improvement the shank 14 and the stem 18 are passed into the opening in ring 8 from the front of the bracket B and at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the ring 8, similar to the manner shown in my United States Patent #1,245,800 dated N ovember 6th, 1917. Thereafter the bolts 10 are inserted and the spring D is put in position, after which the abutment 12 is mounted on the-bolts 10' and the nuts 11 are screwed upsulficientlyto'place thespring 'D 'under the compression n'ecessaryto properly support the couplinghead Acentrally with respect to the ring 8 of the base B.

Vl hilevarionsidetail changes may be made within the scope of my invention, such for instance as replacing thexbolts lflwith a distance piece cast integralwith the bracket B and the abutment 12; I referably construct it as shown, this being a'-verysimple andefiicient construction;

. What I claim is:'

1. In an automatic. train-pipe-connector1the combination of a coupling head,' a' bracket having an opening in its lower endlan abutment arranged rearwardly' ofand spaced from said bracket, a -member' secured 'to said head and extending rearwardly through sa d opening and engaging said abutment and universally movable relatively thereto; a

coiled spring; surrounding saidzmember and bearing at one endagainst said abutment and at the other end against said member-andserving 'tonormally force said' member forwardly, .said opening in; the bracket being substantially larger than the body of said member, webon each side ofsa'i d m'ember extending laterally thereof, and a web extendingdownwardly therefrom; the frontedge of each of said webs beinginclined to contact 2; In an automatictrain pipeconnector; the- -combination 011a couplingheadga bracket; havingan openingltherein, a plurality of rods extending rearw'ardly from said bracket, an

abutment supported on said rods} rearwardly ofthebracket, a member sec-uredto "said head and extending rearwardly'through said opening and" through saidabut-ment and universally movablerelativeto the-latter, a coiled:

against said abutment and serving tonoropening in the bracket being substantially larger than saidinember, saidmember' havingmally force said member forwardly, said a plurality ofwebs extending laterally:there from and adapted to engage said bracket,the 5 front edge of each of said webs being inclined rearwardly whereby said member is centered in said opening when the same is forced forwardly under the action of said spring.

3. In an automatic train pipe connector, the combination of a coupling head, a bracket having an opening in its lower end, an abutment arranged rearwardly of and spaced from said bracket, a member secured to said head and extending rearwardly through said opening and engaging said abutment and universally movable relative thereto, a spring bearing against said member and serving to normally force the same forwardly, said opening in said bracket being substantially larger than the body of said member, said member having thereon portions which extend only laterally on each side thereof and downwardly therefrom, the front edge of each of said portions being inclined to contact with said bracket, whereby said member will be centered in said opening when the same is moved forwardly under the action of said spring, the portion of said opening above said member being substantially unoccupied whereby free upward movement of said member is permitted at all times.

4. In an automatic train pipe connector, the combination of a coupling head, a bracket having an opening in its lower end, an abutment arranged rearwardly of and spaced from said bracket, a member secured to said head and extending rearwardly through said opening and engaging said abutment and universally movable relative thereto, a coiled spring surrounding said member and bearing at one end against saidabutment and at the other end against said member and serving to normally force said member forwardly,

signature.

JOSEPH ROBINSON.

said opening in the bracket being substantially larger than the body of said member, means positioned only on each side of and beneath said member to center the same in said opening when said member is forced forwardly by said spring, the portion of said opening above said member being substantially unoccupied whereby free upward movement of said member is permitted at all times.

5. In an automatic train pipe connector, the combination of a coupling head, a bracket having an opening in its lower end, an abutment arranged rearwardly of and spaced from said bracket, a member secured to said head and extending rearwardly through said opening and engaging said abutment and universally movable relative thereto, a coiled spring surrounding said member and hearing at one end against said abutment and at the other end against said member and serving to normally force said member forwardly, said opening in the bracket being substantially larger than the body of said member, said member having thereon portions which extend only laterally on each side 

